After he returned home from combat in Vietnam, Don spent decades suppressing feelings of guilt and memories of traumatic experiences. Then 9/11 triggered something in him, and he started having nightmares and angry outbursts. Don had never talked to a mental health professional and wasn’t sure what to expect for his first visit to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center. But, his VA psychiatrist put him at ease right away, showing him ways to manage and understand his symptoms. Connecting with mental health treatment allowed Don to heal and lead a fulfilling life.

MakeTheConnection.net features hundreds of video testimonials of Veterans like Don telling their stories of reaching out and finding the tools they need to deal with mental health challenges and the everyday adjustments to rejoining civilian life. The site is interactive and confidential, and a place where Veterans and their loved ones can find information, insight, and the support they have earned.

Everyone who works with, knows, or encounters Veterans, from health care providers to mental health professionals, can help link Veterans to the resources that are right for them. Support Veterans by exploring MakeTheConnection.net and downloading informational materials to print and distribute. You can also visit the YouTube channel, “like” the Facebook page, and share content with colleagues as well as promote this message: Treatment and VA resources have helped thousands of Veterans, and they can help a Veteran you know, too.

Resources for Clinicians Working With Veterans

Community Provider Toolkit– This VA site features key tools to support the mental health services you provide to Veterans. You can find information on connecting with VA and understanding military culture and experience, as well as tools for working with Veterans diagnosed with a variety of mental health conditions.

National Center for PTSD – This VA resource contains training materials, information, and tools based on the latest posttraumatic stress disorder research to help providers and researchers with assessment and treatment.